More than 100 maternity staff are taking legal action against Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust after being exposed to dangerous levels of nitrous oxide at Basildon University Hospital.
An independent review by the Good Governance Institute in 2023 found the trust “failed to act with candour” and there was an “unacceptable delay” in responding to concerns raised in July 2021. High levels of the gas were not treated as a significant risk until October 2022.
Staff, including midwives and healthcare assistants who worked at the hospital between 2018 and 2023, report symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, headaches and “brain fog”. Nitrous oxide, commonly used as “gas and air” for pain relief during labour, is considered safe for patients but can cause neurological problems and anaemia at high workplace exposure levels.
Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins apologised in 2024, stating: “While we now have robust systems in place… it is simply not acceptable that we took so long to act.” He added that an independent investigation was commissioned to prevent recurrence.
